I have the opposite of this 'Oenophobia' and need help!

[Pantsoff]

How do you stop impulse buying wine cause it's 'cheap'. My situation is getting out of hand.
I can't help it, if there is a deal on and stack-able coupons or a price error that brings a nice wine to 30-40+% off RRP, I just can't not buy it....

Step 1. Stop reading this forum.
Step 2. Unsubscribe from wine emails (or don't read them at least a week after they arrive - FOMO feeling not as strong when you can't act on expired deals)

Worked for me for a couple of months after my wife said my buying got out of hand last year and I (kinda) agreed that I wouldn't buy any wine this year, but I think we both knew deep down that it wouldn't last.

I think many of us are in the same boat.

 

[Wozza]

Through prayer and a sense of conviction on this issue, I have decided to stop buying wine for three and half months.

Why?

I have probably around 350 bottles of lovely wine. And I am consuming them slower than the rate I am buying them.

I need a reset.

I have already cut back my consumption from 1.5/2 bottles a week to 1 bottle a week over 3/4 nights. And I want to bring my wine buying in line with that new reality.

Although my wine buying largely depends on the latest releases and the latest bargains, varying month to month (this time of year tends to be big on buying with the eofy deals around), I am still storing up wine that I may never get around to drinking. That's just wasteful, when there are so many better things I could be spending my family's money on. Even if I have stuck within the comfortable limits of my personal resources and I have kept my buying in reasonable check.

A dear friend has quit his amazing, high flying city job and is going to study overseas with the hope of going into full time (Christian) ministry. He has reached out to some of his friends seeking to partner with him in this exciting journey. It has prompted me to reallocate what I would spend in an average month over the next 3.5 months to help fund part of his time away.

As many of you know, it is difficult to break the cycle of buying. So this post is aimed squarely at those who are struggling with their buying habits AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

There's always another bargain. Another shiny new wine. A new high pointer. A new style. Etc. Even as I write this I see the latest 97 point Dead Arm in my Inbox. So God willing, I am hoping the 3.5 months of not buying and gifting to a more worthy cause will help me recalibrate, and reset my buying habits.

For those that I usually share a case with, it would be helpful to take me off those emails. That would be an enormous help!

I will still continue to have my one bottle a week. I will continue to attend events and tastings, especially with my close AFF friends. And I will be uploading my reviews in the usual ways. But I won't be checking out the Wine Lover threads, except the Nice Wines and Meet Ups ones.

I thought I would post this here given a number of you have expressed a desire to cut back, and were looking at ways to do that. Why not join me in starting your own amnesty for your own period of time and start thinking of a cause dear to your heart where you could gift that money instead.

I suspect you won't regret doing it. I certainly hope I won't. Here's praying ...

Wozza

 

[Dr Ralph]

Through prayer and a sense of conviction on this issue, I have decided to stop buying wine for three and half months....

Wozza

Good luck with the self imposed Ban Wozza. I know I wasn't able to achieve this.

 

[georgehall]

Through prayer and a sense of conviction on this issue, I have decided to stop buying wine for three and half months.

I too am imposing a ban on online purchases, may/may not be due to the Langtons auctions I got carried away with last night...

edit: I actually partly blame this forum (and my happy clicky finger) because the Irvine Grand Merlot featured heavily in my purchases last night. Looking forward to trying after seeing it on here so many times.

 

[QF WP]

Fantastic post Wozza explaining your situation, your plans and expected outcome. Thank you for sharing.

I have been put on rations (well a sort of personal wine budget) by Mrs QF WP. She has her personal spending items, I have mine - and (red) wine is it [so long as there is sufficient white wine for her as well]. Like Wozza, have to pay all the bills first before indulging with free cashflow.

I'm also benefiting from the ability to buy wines through my business as gifts for my top clients (particularly EoFY) - as I generally review my top clients in the first 3 months of the FY. I hear about how good the wines were, so that goes towards my "buying" habit.

 

[ste667]

If I could get through one month I'd be amazed. We drink a little more than 1 bottle a week though, so I feel slightly more justified!

Best of luck in your endeavour though Wozza. Perhaps you will inspire me for July...

 

[Wozza]

A quick update:

I'm over a month into my self-imposed wine buying ban.

So far no wagons have been fallen off!

I was only seriously tempted when my Serrat member email came in. Alas, I'll have to miss the 2016 releases (or pay through the nose later, I guess).

I unsubscribed from all wine emails, and the Dan Murphy's and other threads. I've not looked at them. You'll be surprised by how little non-buying focussed wine content goes up on the Wine Lovers threads. So a one minute look now and then is all that's required.

I'm less distracted during the day. There's no eager beavering just in case I miss the greatest wine bargain of *the next 10 seconds*!! The money not spent is going to a worthy cause.

It all feels worth it.

We'll see if my long term buying habits change (they weren't that bad anyway). But we'll see.

Here's hoping for more peaceful, spend-less months ahead ...

Cheers,


Wozza

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I'm over a month into my self-imposed wine buying ban.

So far no wagons have been fallen off!

Do you mean "no wheels have fallen off the wagon"? Or do you usually have wagons falling off (maybe downtown Seattle post-1889...)

For those that haven't been to Seattle - you should go - it's a FF forum
Downtown Seattle was built on a flood-plain, so after the advent of sewerage pipes, things would back up when the tides came in. After the great fire of 1889, the council decided to raise the level of downtown Seattle by ~2m. All the new roads were built 2m higher, however many buildings (and their footpaths) were rebuilt at the original level, resulting in roads 2m up in the air, and ladders on either side of the road, so people could climb up/down to get to the footpath, and into the shops. Lots of drunk people, horses and wagons fell off the roads. Eventually they raised the level of the footpaths to the level of the roads, the 1st floor of many buildings became the ground floor, and the original ground floors became basements - many unused. Which then helped facilitate the clubs that helped spawn the grunge rock movement. There's a fantastic tour you can do of downtown Seattle (starting in Pioneer Square) of the original preserved footpaths that are under the current day footpaths.

 

[Dr Ralph]

A quick update:

I'm over a month into my self-imposed wine buying ban.

Not tempted by the latest Wendouree offerings?

 

[Wozza]

Not tempted by the latest Wendouree offerings?

No. I never took that all important step to write in to Wendouree and be invited onto the list. So my Wendouree buys, which are very limited to date, come from Langtons (and also 2 from your fine collection!).

I'm taking the approach that if I don't know what I'm missing, then I won't be tempted.

Unsubscribing from all the emails and the Dan's thread has been a huge help.

Hopefully your travels you had planned this year have been fun and rewarding. Any new wines that have taken your fancy on your travels?

Cheers, Wozza

 

[Dr Ralph]

No. I never took that all important step to write in to Wendouree and be invited onto the list. So my Wendouree buys, which are very limited to date, come from Langtons (and also 2 from your fine collection!).

I'm taking the approach that if I don't know what I'm missing, then I won't be tempted.

Unsubscribing from all the emails and the Dan's thread has been a huge help.

Hopefully your travels you had planned this year have been fun and rewarding. Any new wines that have taken your fancy on your travels?

Cheers, Wozza

You're resisting very well then. Even in the US i couldn't escape the lure of ordering a case of everything Wendouree has available.

Other than that purchase traveling in the US for the last month has been a great cure from wine buying. I've not had one glass of any wine or purchased any bottle so far in the US. I realise that there are some quality wines available but I've switched to craft beer for my trip thus far. Outstanding stuff at very good prices. So not yet tempted by wines in the US.

 

[QF WP]

Then both of you will enjoy seeing somebody else (not me) who recently bought big from Wendouree (from a closed FB group of which I am a member):

 

[NZflygirl]

I don't consider myself a wine snob but I only buy in bulk if I KNOW it's a goodie. Like it could be the only wine left in the world and I'd still be happy. It's something I need to have on hand.

Generally if I'm tasting I'll buy 1-2 bottles if I think I like it but not more as I find when I get home it seems to taste different. If it still tastes good then I know I'm happy to buy more and I know where to get it. But to buy wine by the case load - man I have to love it! And there are only a few of those wines around. Hold your tastebuds to the highest standards.

I find being a fusspot cuts down on spending. It's really rare I taste something that knocks my socks off immediately. Those bottles I try and photograph as I learned the hard way by forgetting the exact vineyard a particular wine was from and spent the next 4 yrs reminiscing. Too many wines are just 'drinkable'.

What is it that you REALLY liked about that wine? Or is it just "average"?
Is it something you'd share? or Something to keep for yourself? How good is that wine REALLY? If it's just "average" then - you shouldn't be buying it in bulk, at least not when there's plenty at home. Line your bottles up and see if there's one or two that stands out above the rest. Keep that as the standard.

Buy the stuff that knocks your socks off. If it's just "average" then you can get it any old time so it's not worth buying in bulk.

A bit of psychology I guess but it's how I buy my wine. To pour a bottle down the drain because it's too old to drink or just awful is a crime really - so I'm all for being selective.

p.s. I'm no expert but I like my wine and guidelines are needed.

 

[vedder50]

No. I never took that all important step to write in to Wendouree and be invited onto the list. So my Wendouree buys, which are very limited to date, come from Langtons (and also 2 from your fine collection!).

I'm taking the approach that if I don't know what I'm missing, then I won't be tempted.

Unsubscribing from all the emails and the Dan's thread has been a huge help.

Hopefully your travels you had planned this year have been fun and rewarding. Any new wines that have taken your fancy on your travels?

Cheers, Wozza

You aren't missing much other than hype...having tried 5 vintages, unless you score an extra point or two based on crayons and colours, there's better alternatives for the price.

 

[Wozza]

I don't consider myself a wine snob but I only buy in bulk if I KNOW it's a goodie. Like it could be the only wine left in the world and I'd still be happy. It's something I need to have on hand.

Generally if I'm tasting I'll buy 1-2 bottles if I think I like it but not more as I find when I get home it seems to taste different. If it still tastes good then I know I'm happy to buy more and I know where to get it. But to buy wine by the case load - man I have to love it! And there are only a few of those wines around. Hold your tastebuds to the highest standards.

I find being a fusspot cuts down on spending. It's really rare I taste something that knocks my socks off immediately. Those bottles I try and photograph as I learned the hard way by forgetting the exact vineyard a particular wine was from and spent the next 4 yrs reminiscing. Too many wines are just 'drinkable'.

What is it that you REALLY liked about that wine? Or is it just "average"?
Is it something you'd share? or Something to keep for yourself? How good is that wine REALLY? If it's just "average" then - you shouldn't be buying it in bulk, at least not when there's plenty at home. Line your bottles up and see if there's one or two that stands out above the rest. Keep that as the standard.

Buy the stuff that knocks your socks off. If it's just "average" then you can get it any old time so it's not worth buying in bulk.

A bit of psychology I guess but it's how I buy my wine. To pour a bottle down the drain because it's too old to drink or just awful is a crime really - so I'm all for being selective.

p.s. I'm no expert but I like my wine and guidelines are needed.

There's only one expert that really matters - and that's your own taste buds. We're all wired to like different things, which is great. So what I read of your post is good:

You know what you really like, what you think is okay, and what you don't like.

I adopted the same approach to wine buying. Only 2s and 3s of the stuff I really like. I will grab the rare 6 pack, such as a Serrat Shiraz Viognier. As I know vintage to vintage it will be an exceptional wine. But that's not the norm for me these days.

My only additional advice for you, if you were building a collection to age and savour over time, would be to work out which wine experts share your tastes. That way you can narrow the field in terms of what to buy, by trying and buying what they highly rate. I follow Mike Beenie and Gary Walsh and subscribe to the Wine Front / Winosphere website / app ($50 pa) for this purpose.

But ignore that advice if you buy to consume within a short period.

If you are trying to work out what you like. And struggle with notes. Using the Vivino and/or CellarTracker apps would really help. If you rate every wine you try, the app quickly shows you what you like and don't like. I found Vivino particularly helpful in my early days. As it gave me a count of every wine I tried by region and variety and an average score I had given. There's also a helpful little summary of the grape variety, the region and the winery. It also has a *if you like this wine, check these wines out* button.

Hope that helps.

Happy exploring.

Cheers, Wozza

 

[afro]

You aren't missing much other than hype...having tried 5 vintages, unless you score an extra point or two based on crayons and colours, there's better alternatives for the price.

wendouree is not the only hype in the wine world, there's always people hate it and people love them.i can list a few just on top of my head. wendouree, rockford, penfolds, mount pleasant, torbreck etc. Almost half of the langtons classified top wines are overrated .

 

[unfunkable]

I don't consider myself a wine snob but I only buy in bulk if I KNOW it's a goodie. Like it could be the only wine left in the world and I'd still be happy. It's something I need to have on hand.

Generally if I'm tasting I'll buy 1-2 bottles if I think I like it but not more as I find when I get home it seems to taste different. If it still tastes good then I know I'm happy to buy more and I know where to get it. But to buy wine by the case load - man I have to love it! And there are only a few of those wines around. Hold your tastebuds to the highest standards.

I find being a fusspot cuts down on spending. It's really rare I taste something that knocks my socks off immediately. Those bottles I try and photograph as I learned the hard way by forgetting the exact vineyard a particular wine was from and spent the next 4 yrs reminiscing. Too many wines are just 'drinkable'.

What is it that you REALLY liked about that wine? Or is it just "average"?
Is it something you'd share? or Something to keep for yourself? How good is that wine REALLY? If it's just "average" then - you shouldn't be buying it in bulk, at least not when there's plenty at home. Line your bottles up and see if there's one or two that stands out above the rest. Keep that as the standard.

Buy the stuff that knocks your socks off. If it's just "average" then you can get it any old time so it's not worth buying in bulk.

A bit of psychology I guess but it's how I buy my wine. To pour a bottle down the drain because it's too old to drink or just awful is a crime really - so I'm all for being selective.

p.s. I'm no expert but I like my wine and guidelines are needed.

Excellent advice. I am new to wine and was jumping on every bandwagon there was at the start. As a consequence I have ended up with a lot of quaffers, sure they were cheap and are decent-ish to drink, but life is too short to drink 'okay' wine
Now very selective in what I buy, and if I drink something that is awesome for me, only then will I buy a case of it.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Everyone's tastes are different. Otherwise we'd all be buying the one type of wine from a single producer.

 

[Dr Ralph]

UPDATE: Was in the US for 7 weeks. Didn't drink one drop of wine during this time and actually didn't really miss it. Only purchase I made was for my annual Wendouree splurge (which will be delivered to me in October).

Back in Australia for 5 days. Consumed 15 bottles (with the help of some friends). Purchased 10 bottles of heavily discounted Chapel Hill Bush vine grenache from Dan Murphy's (RRP $30, paid around $11).

Also had messages waiting to be responded to from the local restaurants that I have been supplying with wine in swap deals for meals or for cash in some instances. In total these restaurants wanted about 500 bottles from me immediately. Didn't have the time to organise all of this so gave 1 restaurant 50 bottles and told the others that they'd have to wait until I return from my next sojourn.

Now it's back to the US for 45 more days.

So whilst I haven't consumed much from the cellar at least it has been a fairly stable period of not purchasing.

I do have a 4 day trip to the Barossa and other South Australian wine areas (including Wendouree) coming up in mid October which may see a significant splurge.

 

[afro]

UPDATE: Was in the US for 7 weeks. Didn't drink one drop of wine during this time and actually didn't really miss it. Only purchase I made was for my annual Wendouree splurge (which will be delivered to me in October).

Back in Australia for 5 days. Consumed 15 bottles (with the help of some friends). Purchased 10 bottles of heavily discounted Chapel Hill Bush vine grenache from Dan Murphy's (RRP $30, paid around $11).

Also had messages waiting to be responded to from the local restaurants that I have been supplying with wine in swap deals for meals or for cash in some instances. In total these restaurants wanted about 500 bottles from me immediately. Didn't have the time to organise all of this so gave 1 restaurant 50 bottles and told the others that they'd have to wait until I return from my next sojourn.

Now it's back to the US for 45 more days.

So whilst I haven't consumed much from the cellar at least it has been a fairly stable period of not purchasing.

I do have a 4 day trip to the Barossa and other South Australian wine areas (including Wendouree) coming up in mid October which may see a significant splurge.

what meals did they serve you?from the amount of bottles that you given out, their profits from these aged wines would be huge!